Creo Incubator

Soft skills for clinicians: Conflict resolution

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Creo Incubator

Soft skills for clinicians: Conflict resolution

Martine Abboud

Instructor: Martine Abboud

Included with Coursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level
No prior experience required
1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level
No prior experience required
1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Prevent and de-escalate clinical conflict by identifying root causes and emotions.

  • Resolve high-pressure disagreements using structured conversations, feedback, and problem-solving tools.

  • Apply empathy and emotional intelligence to maintain trust, professionalism, and teamwork.

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Recently updated!

March 2026

Assessments

1 assignment

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

This module introduces conflict resolution as a patient-safety and teamwork skill. You’ll explore the deeper roots of clinical conflict across specialties, including differences in language, roles, assumptions, and status within hospital hierarchies. You’ll learn how emotions escalate conflict and how to shift conversations from confrontation to collaboration. The module also covers prevention: how to build conflict-resistant “micro-systems” in daily workflows, and how to diagnose conflict using a layered framework that separates surface disagreements from underlying needs and pressures.

What's included

6 plugins

This module gives you a practical toolkit to resolve conflict quickly and safely when pressure is high and emotions run hot common realities in clinical settings. You’ll first build a clear understanding of conflict, identify common workplace triggers, and recognize your personal conflict style. You’ll then learn structured approaches such as SOAR, core conflict-resolution strategies, and problem-solving methods that move conversations from blame to solutions. The module also strengthens essential “in-the-moment” skills: having difficult conversations, listening at deeper levels, giving constructive feedback, and staying concise and calm. Finally, you’ll practice navigating power dynamics, internal politics, hidden conflicts, and sensitive situations (including trauma-informed and neurodivergent-friendly approaches), so you can protect relationships while maintaining standards and patient safety.

What's included

20 videos2 discussion prompts8 plugins

This module reframes empathy as a clinical performance skill not just kindness. You’ll learn how to maintain command clarity under pressure while still communicating with warmth and respect, and how the emotional climate of an interaction can change clinical meaning, patient cooperation, and team performance. You’ll explore why soft skills function as part of the “quality infrastructure” of care, then use an integrated matrix framework to connect empathy with other essential soft skills (clarity, boundaries, influence, and teamwork).

What's included

5 plugins

This module builds the emotional intelligence skills clinicians need to stay effective in conflict, uncertainty, and emotionally charged interactions. You’ll learn the core EI concepts (including Goleman’s framework) and practice self-awareness and self-regulation techniques that reduce escalation and improve judgment. Using the RULER approach, you’ll strengthen emotional literacy how to recognize, label, and regulate emotions in yourself and others so you can communicate with clarity and empathy under pressure. You’ll also apply EI to real clinical moments: delivering challenging news, giving constructive feedback, responding to pushback, and handling resistance. The module closes with practical stress-management and resilience strategies, reinforced through interactive practice.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment6 plugins

Instructor

Martine Abboud
Creo Incubator
33 Courses3,134 learners

Offered by

Creo Incubator

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